UEFA challenges free Euro football

Football governing body UEFA is challenging whether the UK needs to protect non-home nation European Championship matches for free-to-air television.

All Euro tournament games, along with FIFA World Cups ties, are listed by the UK government as being of special social value to the country. Only FTA broadcasters can bid for the rights - which has meant the matches end up on the BBC and ITV.

However, UEFA has submitted a challenge to the listing to the European Commission, which has to approve each nation's choices.

The organisation, through its rights partner Sportfive, would stand to make much more money if pay TV operators such as Setanta or Sky could bid to show the Euro games. If the challenge is successful, FIFA may mount a similar challenge over World Cup rights.

In a submission to the commission, UEFA said the UK government's list "infringes the applicant's property rights, as it results in a restriction of the way in which the applicant may market the television rights to the Euro".

Demanding that Euro games be FTA "leads to a disproportionate and unjustified distortion of competition on the relevant market", it adds.

The challenge is particularly relevant while BBC One and ITV1 are airing each of the Euro 2008 games despite England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all having failed to qualify.

The government will have to argue that the tournament itself is of special social value in the UK.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: "We will defend the list. The UK intends to intervene in this case and resist any challenge to the listed events."